Technology with innovative thinking can change lives: Modi

New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a vocal advocate of technology and digital innovations, on Monday stressed the need to promote space technology-based tools and their application in governance and development.

He further said that technology has the potential to improve the life of the masses.

Modi remarked, “technology is a driving force. It has a huge impact and has solutions for numerable problems”.

The PM was seemingly happy about the fact that various government departments showed enthusiasm in using space technology in their respective areas as he addressed a special session of the national meet on promoting space technology here.

“It’s important for us how do we come up with the new initiatives (in terms of utilizing technology) as new ideas and initiatives could do wonders,” he was quoted as saying.

In his trademark style of juxtaposing his childhood days and days as PM now, Modi talked about the example of an airplane. He said that earlier he used to wonder if technology could help reduce accidents on unmanned railway crossing. Now all of us know that an airplane has the technology at its disposal to know the information of weather and clouds coming up in its way.

Modi said that he discussed the issue with scientists and asked them to come up with some tool which would alert a railway engine driver about any unmanned railway crossing up to three to four kilometres ahead.

“Available technology, if used with new thinking and initiatives, could make life better for poorest of the poor,” he said.

Modi recalled eminent space scientist Vikram Sarabhai’s words on the cost of India’s space program that no effort should be spared in the objective of fulfilling the needs of India’s common man.

“There has been an ongoing debate if a country like India should get into competitive race of space technology. But our efforts (to improve life) must not lose the steam,” he said.

“There should be no space between the space technology and the common man,” he said, stressing the need to make maximum use of the available technology to improve life for all.

Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli has told his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi that Nepal’s territory will not be used against New Delhi’s interests, Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said here on Saturday.

“Oli reiterated that they will be sensitive to our concerns and their territory will not be allowed to be used by anybody against India. Prime Minister Modi reciprocated the sentiments,” Gokhale told the media.

Gokhale called Oli’s view “very significant”.

There was a chill in India-Nepal ties during Oli’s earlier stint as Prime Minister between October 2015 and August 2016 when a border blockade blamed on New Delhi crippled Nepal’s economy.

There were also perceptions that Oli was leaning towards China than India.

Gokhale said that Modi’s two-day visit to Nepal was aimed to strengthen bilateral relations “whether it be cross-border electricity or cross-border connectivity”.

“We are looking into cross-border electricity and cross-border connectivity not only with Nepal but other neighbouring countries as well,” he said.

After assuming office in February, Oli made his first foreign visit to India in April.

Stating that India welcomed the restoration of democracy in Nepal, Gokhale said that both the government and the opposition in the Himalayan nation were parties to it.

He said both sides agreed to be committed towards the stated projects. “We will address this within a set timeline.”

Modi is on Nepal visit for two days, wikimedia commons

According to Gokhale, Oli confirmed to Modi that Nepal will host the the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) summit this year.